LIV Golf players enjoy two things most on their circuit. First, all the lucrative prize money. The second would be the relaxed schedule. So that’s why, in its initial stages, LIV Golf could draw top-tier players ready to leave lasting legacies.
However, the biggest lacuna of the Saudi-backed circuit is the absence of OWGR. Without OWGR rankings, top golfers are out of 100 in the world rankings, even though they are performing well. And again, just ahead of its next lucrative event, LIV Golf faced a significant setback. Amid all the chaos, Talor Gooch is focused on just one thing.
Gooch sets his aim on one thing only
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The LIV golf season for this year will end soon. The LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah is scheduled from October 13 to 15. The prize money is a hefty $25 million, as usual, and there are other benefits. Twenty-four golfers have a fantastic opportunity to seal their spots for the upcoming season at the event as well.
However, the Greg Norman-led circuit suffered a significant setback just before the event. Its petition to come under OWGR was revoked, and for next season, LIV golfers will not receive ranking points from OWGR. This made many golfers upset, including Bryson DeChambeau. However, Talor Gooch is unaffected and sets his sights on one thing only.
Gooch has been the best player in the league. He is the only golfer in LIV Golf to have three consecutive victories. He is currently seeking his fourth win. Gooch reportedly said, ”In my mind, the only scenario that I have control of is if I go and win. Winning takes care of everything. That’s the goal, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
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Every golfer should aim to achieve this because it is the best they can do. But why were the official rankings denied to LIV Golf?
A thorough reason behind the verdict
The OWGR explained all the factors that went into the decision to exclude LIV golf in a letter to Greg Norman and Gary Davidson. The Middle East-based league uses a different format than the conventional 72-hole model used in regular tournaments, according to Peter Davidson, the board’s chairman.
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The players aren’t competing in a setting where they can be compared favorably to the other 24 tours’ hundreds of competitors, according to Dawson, who said that “it is entirely technical.”
The OWGR is crucial for any golfer to play in major tournaments or to get a Ryder Cup spot. The recent development is a nasty blow to LIV Golf, where top players have already suffered a substantial decline in their rankings.
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Will LIV Golf ever come under the OWGR umbrella? Only time will tell. But right now, it’s a celebratory time since the season is about to end successfully.
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